Geography Geography 4 min read

A cross-country road trip

From Chicken Dinner to Psycho Path: The funniest street names in America!

Image: Joel Colvin

Many streets are named after significant figures or events, like Independence Avenue, Washington Street, or JFK Boulevard. But sometimes, a street's name isn't tied to a serious theme or story. Across all 50 states, you'll find streets and roads with names so strange they'll make you wonder if they're real or just a joke. If you want to have fun, join us on a tour of 10 US streets with the craziest names!

1
Psycho Path - Traverse City, Michigan

Image: Grigorii Shcheglov

If you like puns, you'll love the people from Traverse City, Michigan. But why? Because they decided to turn one of their streets into a clever joke.

Here is the name they chose for a street in their city: "Psycho Path"! We have to admit it's a good one! This, in fact, earned them the first place for having the wackiest street name!

2
No Name Lane - Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Image: Justin Lawrence

It seems that Coloradans had some creative challenges when naming some places. A perfect example is "No Name Lane," a street just east of Glenwood Springs. But the street is actually located within an area named "No Name," confusing, isn't it? And that's not all! In this region, you can also find landmarks such as No Name Canyon, No Name Creek, and, of course, the main road: No Name Lane.

3
Chicken Dinner Road - Caldwell, Idaho

Image: Cisco Lin

Can a street make you hungry? Well, a street name might! That's exactly what happened to us when we discovered a road in Caldwell, Idaho, with a rather appetizing name. We're talking about "Chicken Dinner Road," which, a few years ago, raised controversy among animal advocates who proposed shortening the name to simply Chicken Road. What do you think?

4
Boring Road - Decatur, Georgia

Image: Simon L

Well, we get it, the name of this street might not sound the most exciting, but don't let it fool you! Boring Road in Decatur, Georgia, is actually home to some pretty nice houses.

Though the name might not sound inviting, it probably comes from someone with the last name "Boring" rather than a reflection of the area's lack of excitement.

5
Robbers Road - Lincoln, Nebraska

Image: Bruno van der Kraan

This street doesn't exactly invite us to take a leisurely walk, especially not at night! But we have to defend the honor of Robber's Road in Lincoln, Nebraska, as its name actually comes from the famous Robber's Cave located in the area.

Robber's Cave is a historic sandstone cave that, according to legend, once served as a hideout for criminals, and that's why it has such a peculiar name! Today, the cave is a tourist spot in Lincoln, attracting many curious people to the area.

6
Memory Lane - Mt. Prospect, Illinois

Image: Benjamin Elliott

There's a place where you can literally take a walk down memory lane, and it is here in the United States! More precisely, it's in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

This town in the Prairie State is home to a street called "Memory Lane," though it wasn't always that way. Originally named "Hill Street" in the 1920s, the street was renamed by the late 1940s.

7
Captain Bacon Road - Yarmouth, Massachusetts

Image: Thought Catalog

Dear breakfast lovers, this could become your new favorite street! We're talking about Captain Bacon Road, located in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

While there are several theories behind the name of this street, one thing is for sure: Captain Bacon Road has sparked a lot of curiosity (and hunger)!

8
Zzyzx - Mojave Desert in California

Image: frank mckenna

While it might look like a typo, "Zzyzx" is actually the name of a road in California's Mojave Desert. In fact, this unusual word not only designates a road but also refers to a small settlement in the state.

The name "Zzyzx" was invented in the 1940s by Curtis Howe Springer, a man who established a health resort and spring in the area. He wanted the name to be unforgettable, so he created "Zzyzx," intending it to be the last word in the dictionary.

9
Unexpected Road - Buena Vista, New Jersey

Image: Christian Lue

A phone call, a piece of news, even love; many things in life can be unexpected. But a street? Well, it seems so! If you don't believe us, you can ask the people of Buena Vista Township, New Jersey.

In this town, there's a street literally called "Unexpected Road," and in 2006, it earned a spot on a rather peculiar list: A survey by The Car Connection ranked it as the 7th wackiest street name!

10
English Muffin Way - Frederick, Maryland

Image: Rachel Park

Surprisingly, Captain Bacon is not the only breakfast-related street. You can also take a stroll down English Muffin Way in Frederick, Maryland.

What's interesting is that just off English Muffin Way sits a Bimbo Bakeries USA facility, famous for producing Thomas' English Muffins! Ok, now we're craving one.

Culture Culture 5 min read

The best music moments in film history

Jukebox material: Discover the top 12 movie songs of all time

Image: OsloMetX

Since sound was added to moving images, film and music have been a perfect match. Whether it’s a heart-wrenching drama, an action-packed thriller, or a romantic comedy, the right song at the right time can always elevate the impact of a scene. There have been millions of great tunes in the history of cinema, but only a few have truly conquered our hearts and stood the test of time. In this article, we’ll take a look at 12 emblematic themes that we still sing along to long after leaving the movie theater.

1
Singin’ in the Rain

Image: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

According to the American Film Institute, Singin' in the Rain is the greatest movie musical of all time . Its centerpiece is the film's title song, written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown and performed by the brilliant Gene Kelly.

The scene in which this melancholic melody is played has become a staple of American culture. "Singin' in the Rain" was later featured in dozens of films and remains a source of joy for many today.

2
Moon River

Image: Trailer screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The theme song for Breakfast at Tiffany's was composed specifically by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini to be performed in Audrey Hepburn’s dreamy voice . The balcony scene in which Fred discovers Holly Golightly playing the song on the guitar is one of the most iconic moments in Blake Edwards' film—and to think it was almost removed from the final cut!

"Moon River" is such a timeless tune that it even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and has been recorded by many other artists since its release in 1961.

3
Let The River Run

Image: David Jones

Remember those aerial shots of New York paired with the gorgeous music of "Let The River Run" in the title sequence of Working Girl ? Just epic!

The main theme of the 1988 film, directed by Mike Nichols, is one of the greatest of all time. Thanks to this song, Carly Simon became the first person in history to win an Oscar , a Golden Globe , and a Grammy for a track composed, written, and performed entirely by a single artist.

4
I Will Always Love You

Image: Hunters Race

Dolly Parton wrote "I Will Always Love You" in 1973. While it was a commercial success for the country legend at the time, it is Whitney Houston’s version of the song for The Bodyguard that everybody remembers.

Houston's 1992 pop ballad stayed at number one on the Billboard chart for 14 weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. It also became the actress’s signature song.

5
Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Image: Stainless Images

According to the American Film Institute, the greatest song in the history of cinema is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from _The Wizard of Oz_—and no wonder! The 1939 song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and was later inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural significance.

The ballad was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg with Judy Garland in mind . At just 16 years old, Garland delivered a masterful performance as Dorothy, and the scene remains one of the most iconic in film history.

6
What a Feeling!

Image: Juli Kosolapova

Written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey, and Irene Cara for the 1983 film Flashdance , "What a Feeling!" is one of the most defining songs of the decade. It’s fair to say the film includes other great tracks, like Michael Sembello's "Maniac" and Laura Branigan's "Imagination."

Yet, the main theme, played during the iconic audition scene, became a worldwide bestseller. It spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

7
Stayin' Alive

Image: NEOSiAM 2024+

The Bee Gees contributed several songs to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, but without a doubt, the most famous is "Stayin' Alive." This 1977 hit tune, along with John Travolta's iconic dance moves, defined the disco era .

"Stayin' Alive" became one of the British group's most popular songs, earning widespread recognition , including a Grammy Award and a spot on several "greatest songs of all time" rankings.

8
GoldenEye

Image: Quang Viet Nguyen

As its name suggests, this song, performed by the great Tina Turner , was written for the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye . It was composed by Irish musicians Bono and The Edge from U2 with Turner in mind.

Depeche Mode were originally asked to compose the film’s main theme but were too busy at the time. "GoldenEye" reached number two on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 when it was released as a single and, along with "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and "You Only Live Twice" by Nancy Sinatra, is considered one of the best 007 theme songs !

9
It Must Have Been Love

Image: Malin Kettil, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The soundtrack of Pretty Woman , one of the best romantic comedies of all time, features several great songs—including Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman."

However, this time, we’d like to highlight "It Must Have Been Love," a bittersweet tune by Roxette . Originally released in 1987, the song was reintroduced when Touchstone Pictures wanted to feature a track by the Swedish pop duo in the 1990 film. Thanks to this re-release, it became a smash hit in the U.S. and around the world.

10
Eye of the Tiger

Image: Dolo Iglesias

Originally, Sylvester Stallone wanted to use Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" as the theme song for Rocky III . When permission was denied, he turned to the American rock band Survivor to write an original song.

Since then, "Eye of the Tiger" has achieved massive success and will forever be associated with Rocky Balboa . It remains one of the most frequently used songs at sporting events and is undoubtedly one of the greatest movie songs of all time.

11
My Heart Will Go On

Image: Courtesy of NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island (NOAA/IFE/URI)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Performed by Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On" is one of the most listened-to and best-selling songs of all time. Originally composed by James Horner as a motif for the Titanic soundtrack , it was later developed into the film’s official theme song.

This catchy tune, which won multiple Grammy Awards, is the perfect complement to Jack and Rose's tragic love story.

12
As Time Goes By

Image: Geert Pieters

Of course, we couldn't leave out of this list one of the most emblematic songs in film history: "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca . Play it again, Sam, and let us relive Ilsa Lund and Rick Blaine's unforgettable love story.

Originally composed by Herman Hupfeld for the 1931 Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome , the song achieved international fame thanks to one of Casablanca 's most memorable scenes. It became the foundation of the film’s soundtrack and was ranked No. 2 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs list.

Culture Culture 4 min read

Gifted people

They do what!? Discover the unusual talents of these 10 celebrities

Image: Alex Alvarez

It's pretty common for movie stars to be great singers or dancers, too. But some of them have incredible abilities you'd never expect. From creating museum-worthy portraits to riding a unicycle or even taming lions, we're uncovering the hidden and extraordinary talents of 10 famous American celebrities. Let's get started!

1
Bob Dylan

Image: Rowland Scherman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As if he weren't talented enough, Bob Dylan not only captivates us with his lyrics and music but also excels in the world of visual arts . The musician is a skilled metal sculptor, creating impressive pieces from welded metal objects. Did you know it?

2
Bob Barker

Image: Rebecca Roth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bob Barker wasn't just a beloved media personality and the unforgettable host of The Price Is Right ; he also knew how to throw a punch. It turns out that Barker was a skilled martial artist who trained for years under action star Chuck Norris and even earned a black belt in Karate.

3
Johnny Cash

Image: Heinrich Klaffs, via Wikimedia Commons

Johnny Cash wasn't just gifted with his voice and guitar; he also had a surprising skill: Morse code. He served in the US Air Force in Germany during the Cold War, working as a radio-intercept and Morse code operator. It’s said that his decoding talent enabled him to be one of the first Americans to learn of Joseph Stalin’s death.

4
Christopher Walken

Image: By Tabercil, via Wikimedia Commons

Christopher Walken gave us iconic film roles, but it wasn't just the big screen he mastered. As a teenager, he took on a peculiar summer job: lion-taming. Believe it or not, it's true! The famous actor performed tricks with a large lioness, which, according to him, taught him stage presence, confidence, and, of course, a lifelong love for cats.

5
Geena Davis

Image: Alan Light, via Wikimedia Commons

In addition to starring in blockbusters like Thelma & Louise (1991), A League of Their Own (1992), and Beetlejuice (1988), Geena Davis is also a skilled athlete. That's right! She took up archery around 1997 and performed so well that she competed in the US Olympic trials for the 2000 Sydney Games, coming very close to qualifying!

6
Mark Ruffalo

Image: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

Beloved Mark Ruffalo is much more than a leading man and a superhero. The actor also has a talent many would envy: he can ride a unicycle! He showcased this skill on The Graham Norton Show in 2014, riding both a standard unicycle and an extra-tall one. As he explained, he dreamed of joining the circus as a child, which inspired him to learn this unique skill.

7
Steve Carell

Image: Sgt. Michael Connors, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Steve Carell has long proven himself as one of America's finest actors, excelling in both comedy and powerful dramas. As if that weren't enough, he’s also a skilled ice hockey player. In college at Denison University, he was a goaltender for the club hockey team, even earning the nickname "Backbone of the Defense"!

8
Terry Crews

Image: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

While he’s delighted us countless times with comedic roles, Terry Crews is also a writer, TV host, book illustrator, furniture designer, flute player, and even a former NFL player! Yet his most remarkable talent lies in the fine arts: he earned a college art scholarship before his football scholarship, and his paintings and drawings are said to be seriously impressive. Without a doubt, Crews is pure charisma, muscle, and talent!

9
Lucy Liu

Image: Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons

The incredible Lucy Liu was born in New York in 1968 and was destined to become a star. But she is much more than one of Charlie's Angels ; Liu is also a talented and accomplished painter. And it's not just a hobby! She has a professional art studio and has exhibited her work over the years.

10
Zac Efron

Image: Ivo Duran from Brazil, via Wikimedia Commons

Over the years, Zac Efron has proven he's more than just a teen star, taking on major and diverse film roles. But that's not his only talent; Efron also masters a skill that's both sensual and challenging: pole dancing! He trained for the film The Greatest Showman , and his athleticism helped him master the strength and precision the art requires.

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